Kima

Kima Mellori - Little Kima
(keem-ah)
Bossy 🔥 Aggressive

-- Lost -- 11/02/2024
Kima padded alongside Stark, her small paws pressing into the hard, frosted ground. She held her head high, forcing herself to act braver than she felt. Her ears pricked forward, eyes sharp, doing her best to ignore the chill that settled deep in her bones and the unfamiliar scents surrounding her. Stark, the big dark wolf she'd followed, was silent as ever, but his steady presence kept her moving forward.

Kima trotted beside Stark, determined not to let her legs shake as they crossed the harsh, snow-dusted terrain of the Desolate Ridge Pack's territory. She held her head high, trying to appear as bold as she felt inside. Stark's steady presence was the only thing that kept her paws moving, even as her heart thudded with a mixture of fear and excitement.

When they finally arrived, two imposing figures waited—a powerful-looking male with piercing eyes and a tall, sleek female with a sharp gaze. Kima knew they had to be the alphas, Dagr and Brynja. Their eyes swept over her, taking in every detail, and she forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let them see the faint tremble in her limbs.

The alpha male, Dagr, tilted his head, his lips curving in a faint smirk. "And what do they call you, little one?" he asked, his voice both curious and challenging, as if testing her.

Kima's ears flicked back for just a second before she lifted her chin, meeting his gaze as steadily as she could. "Kima," she said, her voice small but fierce.

Dagr, let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "Got some fire in her, doesn't she?" he said, his eyes gleaming with something between amusement and curiosity.

Brynja, the alpha female, nodded, her gaze as cold and sharp as the wind. "You'll need it, little Kima." she replied. Her voice was steady and firm, softened only slightly by a hint of approval. "If she wants to survive here, she'll have to be strong."

Kima's ears flicked back for a moment, her heart pounding. The tundra isn't kind. She knew it already, had felt it in the icy nights and the relentless wind that cut through her thin coat. But she lifted her chin even higher, her tail giving a defiant little wag. She wouldn't let them see her doubt. She'd show them she was tougher than she looked, a pup from the Barren Hollows, she'd prove to her natal pack and this one, that she could take whatever this land threw at her.

That night, as the pack settled in under the vast, star-scattered sky, Kima lay a little apart from the others, her head resting on her paws as she stared out into the darkness. She could hear the wind howling in the distance, a constant reminder of the unforgiving world she'd entered. But even as a shiver ran down her spine, she held herself still, willing herself to embrace the cold.

But when sleep finally tugged at her eyes, she found herself inching closer to Stark's warmth. Who just huffed in exhausted protest but remained.

-- Little Wolf and the Vines -- 11/05/2024
Kima bounded ahead, leaping over fallen branches and weaving through patches of snow. Stark followed at a steady pace, his dark form a shadow against the winter landscape, keeping his usual composed distance. Kima could feel his eyes on her, watching, as if waiting for her to slip up. She turned back to him with a grin.

"Come on, Stark!" she called out, a teasing spark in her voice. "Are you getting slow in your old age?"

Stark raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral but amused. "Careful, pup. Bold words can lead to trouble," he replied, his tone steady and unbothered. "I wouldn't want to see you stuck in a snowdrift again."

Kima bristled, rolling her eyes. "That was one time! And besides, you pulled me out, didn't you?"

Stark gave her a look, tilting his head. "That I did. But I might not be there every time you decide to look for trouble."

Kima puffed up, trying to look as fierce as she felt. "I don't need saving anymore. I can handle myself just fine." She gave him a challenging stare. "Or maybe you're just afraid I'll show you up?"

Stark narrowed his eyes with a small smirk. "Is that a challenge?"

Kima felt her pulse quicken, the thrill of the playful rivalry sparking something deep within her. "It is." She held his gaze, refusing to back down, feeling a surge of determination, she couldn't quite explain.

As the two stared each other down, the ground around Kima began to shift. Thin vines pushed their way up from beneath the snow, coiling gently around her paws and snaking out toward Stark's legs, as if responding to her emotions. Kima blinked, startled, but a sense of wonder began to replace her shock as she realized these vines were her doing.

Stark's gaze flicked down, his expression turning thoughtful as he watched the vines twist and reach around him. "So, little wolf has tricks after all," he murmured, sounding both impressed and intrigued.

Kima's eyes widened as she looked down at the vines, her heart racing with excitement. She turned to Stark, her voice breathless but filled with pride. "I… I don't know how I did that."

Stark gave a nod, his usual reserved expression softening slightly. "Seems something in you is stirring," he said. "Fascinating."

Kima straightened, her confidence surging as she watched the vines respond to her touch, curling around her paw like an extension of herself. "Guess I have more to teach you than I thought, old wolf."

Stark let out a low chuckle, a rare smile appearing. "Don't go getting ahead of yourself." He nudged her forward with his nose, watching as the vines slowly receded back into the earth. "There's power in you, yes. But you have a lot to learn."

She looked back at him, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Then I'll learn."

-- Unwelcome Past -- 11/07/2024
Read Morbid's Intro first!
As Kima huddled low beneath Ivar's watchful, pecking beak, her heart raced. Branwen's taunts, his smug voice, echoed through her mind. It was hard to stand tall under his piercing stare, knowing that, to him, she was still just "the runt," the pup they hadn't deemed worthy of their time. But she was different now. She'd grown tougher, braver, and there was Stark, the steadfast healer who'd given her a chance when her own family hadn't.

Swallowing hard, Kima lifted her chin, her voice surprisingly steady. "I don't need her approval. Or yours." She threw a defiant glance at Branwen, forcing herself not to back down despite her pounding heart. "I'm not helpless."

Branwen's cold smile widened as he prowled closer, circling her with an unsettling ease. "Not a helpless pup? Traveling with an Outsider says otherwise, Kima." His gaze darted over her shoulder, settling on Stark, his dark form imposing.

"Ah, the Outsider himself," Branwen murmured, almost as if to himself. He sat down with a lazy air, his eyes flicking back to Kima. "Does he even know who you are? Or how… expendable you were to the rest of us?"

Kima's face burned, both from anger and shame, but she fought to keep her composure. Just as she was about to respond, Stark's steady voice cut through the tense air. "If you're trying to intimidate her, I'd suggest you find someone else, she is my apprentice now." he said, his tone calm but firm. He moved to Kima's side, his presence immediately easing some of her fear, grounding her with his quiet confidence.

Branwen's smirk faded, his ears flicking in annoyance as he sized Stark up. "And you must be her… protector?" Branwen mocked, though his tone had a wary edge. "Did she tell you how she was left behind? Cast out because she wasn't good enough?"

Stark didn't flinch, his watchful gaze unblinking as he met Branwen's sneer with calm indifference. "I know enough," he replied simply, his voice quiet but unyielding. "But what I know about her comes from what I've seen. There's more to her than you all believed." He gave a small nod to Kima, his look reassuring, as if to remind her that he stood beside her—not as a crutch but as an ally.

Kima straightened a little, finding a surge of courage as she glanced up at Stark, then turned her fiery gaze back to Branwen. "You might see me as weak," she said, her voice low but fierce, "but I'm still here. And I'll be more than you ever thought I'd be."

Branwen's eyes narrowed, his confidence wavering as he looked between her and Stark. For a moment, he seemed unsure of how to respond, his mouth twitching in irritation. Ivar, sensing the tension, let out a sharp caw, snapping Branwen from his hesitation. His eyes blazed as he leaned in, his voice dripping with venom. "Fine, little sister. Play the tough one if you like but know this—you don't belong out here. And when mother finds out about this—"

"Last I was aware; The Matron and I had an understanding. Tell your matriarch of our passing," Stark interrupted smoothly, his calm voice cutting through Branwen's tirade like a sharpened blade. He stepped forward, placing himself fully between Kima and her brother, his gaze fixed and unyielding. "It won't be the last time, either. My services are known to many packs across this land, including The Matron's. If she has anything to discuss, she can do so directly, rather than an arrogant yearling."

Branwen bristled, taken aback, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to respond. The mocking calmness in Stark's voice stung as much as any insult. His tail lashed, and he shot Kima a glare, but his confidence faltered under Stark's steady gaze.

With a final, furious snarl, Branwen spun on his paws, shooting Stark and Kima one last dark look before stalking away, Ivar circling above him. Stark stayed silent until Branwen's shadow vanished from view, his calm finally shifting as he glanced down at Kima with a glimmer of approval.

Kima let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her heart still thumped in her chest, though it was no longer just from fear. The clash had left her feeling oddly exhilarated, like a fire had been stoked within her. She looked up at Stark, his quiet strength like an anchor in the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

Stark's gaze softened as he watched her, and Kima found herself straightening up, her chest swelling with pride. She hadn't let Branwen's taunts bring her down, not this time.

"Thank you, Stark," she said, her voice firmer than before. "For… for believing in me."

Stark tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You handled yourself just fine, little wolf. But don't thank me for speaking truths." He paused, his eyes catching hers in a steady, almost challenging look. "You don't need their approval. Or their permission. You only need to know your own strength."

Kima held his gaze, feeling a spark of determination flicker to life in her chest. She wanted to believe him, to hold onto that strength she'd felt just moments ago. But Branwen's words still stung, echoing in her mind: You don't belong out here.

"What if… what if he's right?" she murmured, unable to keep the doubt from creeping into her voice. "What if I don't belong anywhere?"

Stark's expression softened, and he lowered his head until his eyes were level with hers. "Belonging isn't something others grant you, Kima," he said, his tone as steady as the mountains around them. "You're a part of this world, like every root, stone, and stream. The wilderness claims us all in time."

Kima swallowed; her throat tight as she absorbed his words. It was strange, feeling both vulnerable and empowered under Stark's gaze. She shifted her paws in the dirt, trying to find the right words, until the quiet stretch of earth around them felt less like empty silence and more like a blanket wrapping around them.

Stark gave a slow, approving nod. "You're already on that path. It's a journey, not a race." He glanced to the forest, his gaze lingering on the distant hills. "Come now, I'm sure if your mother wishes to confront us, she will but let's not stray again hmm?"

Kima's ears flicked back slightly, a sheepish grin crossing her face as she took in Stark's words. She couldn't help it—exploring felt as natural as breathing, even if it had gotten her into trouble more times than she could count.


Notes for me:- kima will have an arc very similar to arabella with randomly discovering her connection to old druidic magic